Thought of the Day - February 6 2022 - By the Numbers

COVID Cases, Hospitalizations and Deaths in Canada

Here in Canada official cases and hospitalizations continue to decline. As predicted the exception is the Territories. Nunavut is now starting to head toward NWT and Alaska's levels. Yukon got started earlier and so is now seeing the highest per capita death rates in Canada.

The great news this week is that following declines in both cases and hospitalizations the Canadian total death rate is also now declining, as our Omicron wave subsides.

An interesting report from last year compared excess deaths and COVID-19 reported death across provinces in 2020. Among the conclusions is with the exception of Quebec, COVID deaths were underreported in the first year of the pandemic across the country.

In contrast, we may be overreporting COVID deaths now. As Bonnie Henry admitted last week, half of the COVID hospitalization figures are from people that have no COVID symptoms.

Canada's Stringency Index

Now we can move on to the final indicator that needs to change if we are to put this pandemic behind us, our COVID Stringency Index (note where policies vary across the country the most strict is used).

Canada now ranks as the country with the fifth-highest level of restrictions (we were 44th at the beginning of 2022).

Compared to our main trading partners, Canada has the highest level of COVID mandated restrictions.

In contrast, a new Angus Reid Poll says for the first time the majority of Canadians agree it is time to end restrictions.

The figures are fairly similar across the country with the exception of Atlantic Canada.

This week there is no shout-out. We are at a critical juncture, and it is not yet evident in which direction we will go.

Cheers

Cliff